Win $59 in NYX Cosmetics!

One (1) lucky winner will win $59 worth ofNYX Cosmeticsproducts, including items from their new HD Studio launch. The winner will receive:

HD Studio Primer ($14.00)

HD Studio Eyeshadow Base ($7.00)

HD Studio Apricot Grinding Blush ($16.50)

Nude on Nude Natural Look It ($11.00)

Purple Smokey Look Kit ($11.00)

RULES: All entries must be submitted by December 26th, 2010 at 11:59 PM PST. This contest is open to U.S. readers only as pursuant to your local state/country’s laws. Winner will be chosen randomly and notified via e-mail. This post will be updated with the winner once the winner confirms.

One Way to Win

Leave a comment on this blog post telling me which product you want to try first!

Quick Review: Maybelline Silver Starlet Baked Eyeshadow

Maybelline Silver Starlet Baked Eyeshadow Duo ($7.29 for 0.09 oz.) is a baked eyeshadow (similar to MAC’s Mineralize Eyeshadows), and one side is solid while the other is marbled. When swatched, the product works amazing whether wet or dry–the solid side is a steely blue with frosty, silver sheen; the marbled side a neutral champagne pink with a frosted sheen. The blue shade is actually similar to the blue from MAC’s Sea & Sky Duo.

It has a smooth texture, high frost finish, and both shades were incredibly pigmented. In the past, I’ve found that baked eyeshadows often must be used wet in order to achieve good color pay off, but these worked well dry, too. I did have the ever slightly noticeable fading after eight hours of wear with Maybelline’s Baked Eyeshadow Duos, but it was very slight.

Welcome to Swatch-all-idays! To start 2011 off on the right foot (or post, as it may be!), Temptalia is going through a backlog of products we have photographed, swatched, and often tested but in a slightly different manner. Quick reviews may be partially incomplete, such as a blush may only be swatched on the arm rather than shown on the face. It is our hope that what we are able to provide is still helpful!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 🙂

Product: 27/30

Value: 8/10

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: Maybelline has several other variations on their duos, and based on this one, these might be a great alternative to higher-end baked eyeshadows like MAC’s Mineralize Eyeshadows–perhaps not necessarily exact dupes in terms of colors but the product type is quite similar.

Quick Reviews: L’Oreal Brown Extra Intense Eyeliner

L’Oreal Brown (797) Extra Intense Liquid Pencil Eyeliner ($8.49 for 0.03 oz.) is a dark neutral brown with a creamy, semi-matte finish. It’s easy to work with, and it glides on smoothly on the lid and lash line. It doesn’t drag, pull, or tug, and it deposits color evenly and doesn’t need layers to go opaque.

Welcome to Swatch-all-idays! To start 2011 off on the right foot (or post, as it may be!), Temptalia is going through a backlog of products we have photographed, swatched, and often tested but in a slightly different manner. Quick reviews may be partially incomplete, such as a blush may only be swatched on the arm rather than shown on the face. It is our hope that what we are able to provide is still helpful!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 🙂

Product: 29/30

Value: 7/10

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: This is one of the better eyeliners I’ve discovered at drugstores — at the price tag, I’d recommend waiting for them to go on sale!

Quick Reviews: Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaChrome & H2o Proof Eyeliners

Wet ‘n’ Wild MegaChrome Eyeliners ($2.99 for 0.04 oz.) and Wet ‘n’ Wild H2O Proof Eye Pencil ($2.99 for 0.03 oz.) were both products that did not work for me. Both formulas smudged terribly on me after less than an hour of wear–since they gave me raccoon eyes so quickly, I went through all four in a day, but nothing lasted for more than an hour. All four pencils were also a bit hard; I would definitely recommend wearing down the tip on the back of your hand before using them, but they’re still not overly soft, so they can tug a bit.

Pigmentation was also problematic; it was decent in the MegaChrome Eyeliners but dismal in the H2O Proof Eye Pencil. They tend to apply patchy and need another pass or two (or three…) to get the right color intensity and evenness. For a waterproof formula, Denim Chrome couldn’t even last long enough to make it to a water test!

Cobalt Blue is a blackened navy blue.

Antique Amethyst is a blackened plum purple.

Gold Pewter is a true yellow gold with a soft metallic finish.

Denim Chrome is a medium-dark blue with silver glitter.

Welcome to Swatch-all-idays! To start 2011 off on the right foot (or post, as it may be!), Temptalia is going through a backlog of products we have photographed, swatched, and often tested but in a slightly different manner. Quick reviews may be partially incomplete, such as a blush may only be swatched on the arm rather than shown on the face. It is our hope that what we are able to provide is still helpful!

If you want to know more about how products are evaluated, read out Rating System FAQ! 🙂

Product: 13/30

Value: 8/10

Ease of Use: 4/5

Packaging: 4/5

RECOMMENDATION: There are better eyeliners on the market, both high-end and budget-friendly, so there is no need to settle on these.

MAC and Mickey Contractor Collection

U.S. & International Launch Date: January 6th, 2011 at limited MAC locations (waiting for a list as of 12/29), 1.800.588.0070 and www.maccosmetics.com. International January 2011 – locations unknown at this time.

Who is Mickey Contractor, and why can’t about a billion people live without him? The answer involves breaking out into song and dance, because long before Glee, Mickey made the dashing heroes and exotic enchantresses of Bollywood Cinema into the famous faces throngs of fans want to look like. As M·A·C’s Director of Makeup Artistry for India, he’s more than an icon to a glamorous Eastern audience – he has mentored in-the-know Artists around the world for over three decades. These exclusive collections of Mickey’s musts are all about natural skin tonality and total performance, in addition to colour with a touch of exotic cine-magic. Foundation, Concealer, Prep + Prime Transparent Finishing Powder, goddess-gorgeous Eye shades, Lipstick, Lipglass and Blush, with his favourite brushes to star in your own big Bollywood hit.

Edited @ 12/29 at 10:24AM: JUST heard back from MAC HQ – they are confirming in-store launch in top 22 MAC Stores only, and they are working on a list. Due to the holidays, they can’t give me an exact date as to when they will have the list for me. LiveChat is reporting it will be online for everyone nearer to the official launch date.

Help me help you and readers like you — if you know your store has confirmed they will have Mickey Contractor in their store, let me know!